Amusement device



Dc. 27, 193s. M, G'QLDMAN 2,141,431

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. '7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO RN EYS M. GOLDMAN 2,141,431

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Dec. 27, 1938.

Filed Feb. 7, 1958 s sheets-sheet 2 l'iiiii" @in .m -lllllllllllllll 63 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS M. GOLDMAN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheei 3 /ISZ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to combinations of games of skill especially of the type comprising a hoop and target and a new and improved score dis.

5 playing mechanism associated therewith.

It is a major `object of the present invention to provide an amusement device comprising a game of skill of the type consisting of a combination of hoop or hoops andl a target upon which l the hoops are caught when tossed, and a new and improved Vscore displaying mechanism whereby after a hoop or a plurality of hoopshave Vbeen tossed upon the target the number thereof land the relative positions thereof upon the tar- 73 get will be visibly'displayed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an amusement device including means for receiving a-plurality of hoops when tossed upon a relatively stationary member, whereby the hoops 2 0 can be received and positioned in a plurality of places along said member, and means for visibly displaying the number and locations of hoops so positioned.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device comprising a relatively stationary standard toward which a plurality of hoops are thrown and upon which said hoops can be positioned in at least several locali-- ties, combined with an electrical circuit wherein 30 means are provided for visibly and/oraudibly indicating the number and/or positions of hoops so positioned on`said member.

' It is a further and additional object of the presen t invention to provide a novel type of switch- :i3 ing means whereby an electrical circuit can be controlled through the tossing of electrically conductive hoops upon a standard or a member. thereby effecting the completion of one or several of a. pluralityv of electrical circuits associated 4.) with said member.

Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will "be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of' the following description wherein-v a -n specific embodiment of the present invention,

herein illustrated, will be described, it being clearly understood'however that the illustrated preferred embod'ment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative.

In the drawings:

F`g. 1 is substantially a perspective view of the now preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is substantially a side elevational view ,'.5 of a portion of the structurelllustrated in Fig. l,

i DEVICE i, 193s, serian N0. 189,250

(ci. '27a- 104) showing the hoop receiving member and a p0rtion of the score displaying apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view of the front end portion oi the hoop receiving member;-

F'ig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along the line -d; and

Fig. 5 is a partially schematic electrical circuit diagram showing the presently preferred circuit utilized in the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the present invention comprises a substantially vertical` but slightly inclined annulus having a serrated relatively horizontal member positioned in thefcenter thereof, said serrated member comprising a plurality of switch elements associated l5 with visual and audible score indicating means whereby electrically conductive hoops resting upon serrations in said member actuate said means.

In certain of its less broad aspects and, indeed,

in its preferred. embodiment the present invention comprises an annulus and member arranged as hereinabove described, wherein syncategorematically a plurality of synclined surfaces are provided on said member, one of each pair of surfaces being associated with a com-mon line and the other of each pair of surfaces being associated with visual and audible score indicating means whereby a metallic annulus positioned upon said synclined surfaces, resting upon said l edges, results in actuation of said visual and audible score indicating means.-

In order to facilitate a iullerv and more complete understandins of the present invention the herein illustrated embodiment thereof will be a5 hereinafter described.

Referring-now to Fig. 1, wherein a perspective view of the device is shown, the annulus i0 and serrated hoop receiving member generally designated at' Il are shown supported by means gen- 40 erally designated at I2. i

'Ihe supporting means comprise a pair of anticlined composite legs I3 and I4, forming the front support, and another pair ofcomposite legs i5 and I6 forming the rear support. Itwill be noted 45 that each of these legs comprises a pair of interconnected members each provided with a plurality lof openings. some of which are designated at Il, the openings in adjoining members being alignable whereby fastening means, for example bolts, some of vwhich are designated at i8, can be passed therethrough, thereby substantially hrmly but adjustably securing saidl members in cooperative relation. In the preferred embodiment of the'invention, the lowermost portions or feet sa of these support members are provided with rubber tips I 9, substantially as shown. It will be observed that the upper portions of the front supporting members I3 and I4 are attached directly to the annulus I 0 and that the upper por- -tions of the rear supporting legs I5 and I6 are attached by means including hinges (not shown) to an upper portion of the score indicating board generally designated at 20. Stability of the device is preferably enhanced by means .including a spreader 2| connected to the back legs I5 and I6 and by connecting means such as chains 22 associating the front and back legs, substantially as shown, these chains also serving to maintain the annulus at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the surface upon whichthe device rests. It will be observed that, .if desirable, the annulus ca'n be raised or lowered with respect to the surface upon which the structure rests without altering the angle of inclination of said annulus with respect to said surface.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the annulus I0 is provided with a plurality of visible indicating means, preferably miniature lamps, certain of which are designated'at 30, arranged upon same in spaced relatlonship substantially as shown. It'will also be noted that audible indicating means are provided, mounted on said annulus and generally' designated by the numerals 3| and 321, the function thereof being hereinafter described. Power supply terminals and manual switching means generally designated at 35, are mounted and arranged on the bottom portion of the annulus, materially as illustrated. The upper portion of the annulus serves to support the score board Whereon certain rules of the game areI displayed and whereon the score is also visibly displayed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the score board 20 is supported on the annulus I0 by means including upright members, one of which is indicated by the numeral 38, associated with the board and annulus as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The supporting member upon which the hoops rest will now be described, reference being made to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, wherein the details thereof are best illustrated. The member comprises a shape substantially resembling a modified V or U in outline and formed, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, by processes such as die casting. One arm 40 of the shape is attached to and supported by a portion of the annulus as, for

example, by means of a flanged portion il formed at thevfree end of said member, the other end of said arm being connected by the crosspiece 42 to the hoopreceiving member proper 43. The arms 431s provided with a plurality of V-shaped upwardly projecting parts 45, 46, 41, 48, 49 and 56 formed integralv therewith, one of `the arms of each of said V-shapes being substantially vertical with respect to the member 43 and the other of said arms being inclined toward the front portion 5l of said member, substantially as shown. It will also be observed thatv near the front end 5I of the member 43 an upright arm 34j is provided, formed integral therewith and extending forwardly to support a visible target indicating means generally designatedv at 80, to be hereinafter described. Adjacent the member 43 on each of the upright arms of the V-shaped -members 45, 4B, 4l, 48,49 and 50 is provided bushings of electrically insulated material 54, 55, 56, 5l, 58, 59 and 60, respectively, around which are positioned the electrically conducuve switch elements e4, ss, ss, s1, es, ss and 10. It will be observed that each of the switch elements 64, 65, 66, 61, 68, 69 and 'I0 is electrically insulated from the member 43 and from the members 44, 45, 46, 41, 48, 49 and 50 by means including the insulated bushings 54, 55, l56, 51, 58, 59 and 60, arranged as aforesaid and substantially as shown. Each of the switch elements is electrically connected and wired in electrical circuit with thescore indicating means as will be hereinafter described, the current-carrying lines associated with said elements being positioned within hollowed-out portions of the arms 40, 42 and 43'being led to the elements through openings, one of which is designated at 53 in Fig. 3 positioned adjacent said element and between the arms of said V-shaped members 45--50 inclusive, the other end of said line leaving the arm 46 through an opening generally ,designated at 52, from which 'the lines pass to the visual indicating means hereinafter to be described.

In order to facilitate checking and/or replacement of the wiring within the modified V-shaped casing comprising-'the arms 40, 42 and 43, it will be noted, referring to Fig. 4, that the modied V-shaped member is formed of a channel stock 6I with fitting cover 62, the cover being held in s place by Afastening means such as, for example,

a plurality of screws, one of which is designated at 63.

The visual target indicating means generally designated at will now be described and comprises a target plate proper 1I attached to a bent end portion 'l2 of said arm 44 as, for example, by fastening means such as a nut and bolt 13. A miniature electric lamp, comprising lamp socket generally designated at 14, is mounted on said plate 1I, substantially as shown, and connected by one lead to the arm 44 and by another lead to a portion of the electric circuit as will be hereinafter described.

As hereinabove alluded to, it will be noted that the arm 43 is maintained. in substantially horizontal position with respect to the surface upon which the device rests and although the end portion wherein the visual target means generally designated at 80 is positioned'substantially near the center of the annulus I0, the arm 43 synclined edges defined by upright and by inclined arms of pairs of members 55, 56, 4l, 38, 49 and 50, it being understood of course that the switch element 64 mounted on the arm 54 and the electrically conductive casing portion 42 also function in conjunction with these elements. It

' will be seen then that as' a hoop or annulus such as, for instance, the one designated by the numeral 8|, when so positioned rests upon one of the inclined arms of the V-shaped members and one of the switch elements, in the particular instance illustrated in Fig. 2, the inclined arm of the member 46 and switch element 65 mounted on the V-shaped member 45 whereby electrical contact is effected between said member 45 and said element 65.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the electrical circuit arancel h v concatenating the various elements lu the device .according to the present invention de-s scribed. Lines lli@ connected to a soluce ol' cone tinuously alternating electric current are led to the primary of a current transformer, gen-emily designated at tot. The current from the secs ondary is utilized in actuating the score and 'visual indicating means. @ne eide ci the secondary lili is connected by means including the line lli@ to the frame ci the hoop receiving' me lier generally designated at il in l. 'it will he seen that each oi the inclined the Vnshaped elements comprising a. serrated hoop receiving member, are connected to 'the one side of thesecondary, that is to say, in the the inclined iac ci the members liti. lili. 38. di. it and it are connec to the line iilli. diie lamp lf3 is also connected in this leg ci' the secondary circuit by means including the line @lil and the line ldd, the latter being connected to the opposite leg lill oi the secondary through the switch it, whereby it will be seen that when desired said lamp Mean be dissociated irom said circuit as conditions oi use may indicate as preiarable. lhe other lineA of the secondary. namely theline iii?, serves as a common line to the score and visual indicating means as follows: The line llt connected to said line itl is connected to the buzzer di through the line iii: line lid is con- Anecized to the lamps |29 and i3d through the line H2 common to both sets oi lamps: line il@ is connected to the lar'nps i283 by the line ils common thereto; likewise the lamos i2? are connected to said line HB through the line iid common thereto: the bell 3i and thalamus 02d are connected to the line im through the line lia common thereto and the score indicating lambs M5. las, 8&7. M8. MQ. im. HH, inclusive. through the line lit common thereto. Thus .it will be seen that all the electrical score indicating apnaratus is at'all times connected to one side of the secondary di the power transformer generallv designated at |02. Connection is established to the other side ofthe secondary duriniz the playing of the game by disposition of a metallic hoon upon the serrated hoop receiving member whereby the metallic hoop establishes contact between Y the synclined edges of the serrations. l A

Tracing then the circuits ofthe diil'erent serrations in sequence. it will be seen that the serration including the inclined member 65 is connected by means of ametallic hoop to the switch element 84 and thence by the line |84 to the bell 3| and thence to the lamp IIB. It will be seen then that the circuit including the bell. lamp and transformer secondary, is completed through the lines and electrical elements |84. 4B. 68. I|64. 3|, |45, H6, H0 and illl., Thus it will be seen that when the metallic hoop rests upon the iirst serration the bell 3| will be actuated and the lamp |65 will be lighted.

In like manner, a Ahoop resting 'upon the inclined surface 46 completes the circuit includingr the buzzer I2 and the lamp |46 as follows-lines and electrical elements |04, 46, 55, |65. |48.' H8, Iii! and |07. Thus it will be seen that 'a hoop resting on the second serration causes actuation of the buzzer 32 and lighting of the lamp |88.

seen that ahoop resting upon the inclined member il will ^complete the circuit including the power source in lamps |26 and lill as follows: lines and electrical elements mikel, SS, it, lita, lill, H6, H0 and lill. Thus it will be seen that Referring now to the third serration, it will be a hoop rg upon the td tion `cause the los i and lill to be lighted.

Referring now to the fourth serration, the circuit including the lamps lll and lili? and the transformer secondary is completed through the iollinrlng lines and electrical elements: lili-i, el, lilo., liti, il@ and itil. Thus it i' be seen that a hoop resting upon the fourth ser ration causes the lamps ill and ldd to be lighted. Retaining non to th serraticn. it will be seen that the. circuit including the lamps i223 and lil@ and the transformer secondary will be completed by a hoop restingv upon said serration through the following lines and electrical elernc-um: ltd, itil, lilla, ist, lit, lill and itil. it will he seen that a hoop resting f1 the :lilith serration will cause the lamps it@ and lf3@ to he lighted.

ln like manner a hoop resting in the sixth serration completes circuits as follows: ldd. tid, til, itil, litio, ltiil, tilt, liti, il@ and iol. Thus it will be seen that the lamps lli@ and itil will be lighted when the hoop rests in said sixth serratlon.

il hoop resting in the seventh and last serration completes circuits through the following' lines and electrical elements: tilt, 52.179. llt; 30,

llt, lill, lit, il@ and ld'l whereby the lamps.

i3d and' iti are associated with the secondary oi the power transformer generally designated at it? and thereby lighted.

lt is to be noted that during the playing of thegame a hoop or a plurality oi hoops can rest non one or several oi the serrations formed in themember generally designated at ii and although the hoops contact with each other. no short-=circuit will result inasmuch as they merely serve as switch elements in one side nf the une and no potential diderence exists between the hoops so noeitioned'uoon different serrations in' said member. It is also to be observed that during playing oi' the game, throwing of hoops unon the serrated member'.- generally designated at il, and engagement of said hoops therewith will resuit in movement of said hoops either when originally positioned upon said member or subsequently when struck by other hoops thrown during the` course 'of the playing, whereby the circuit completed through said hoops is intermittently Vbroken thusv causing blinking or hashing Vof the various lamps included in the circuit completed by the moving hoou and also under certain vconditions intermittently actuating the audible indicating means.

In the preferred embodiment of the present in-.

ventionmeans are provided for electrically illuminating the score board. generally designated at 20, said means including a lamp. afenerallydesignated at |80 in Fig. 1, and positioned over, or at least adjacent to,`said score board. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that said lamp |00 is supplied with electrical current from the.

power line |00 through the lines |8| and |82, the

last mentioned line having interposed therein a switch |83 for disconnecting said lamp when apposite or exigent.

of the switch as hereinabove described, whereby said target or at least the lamp therein is connected with the secondary of the power transformer |02. As the hoops fall in the various serrations of the member generally designated at I I, they actuate the score and visual indicating means as hereinabove described, whereby the various lamps positioned upon the annulus are associated electrically with the secondary of the power transformer |02 and .thereby lighted. It will be seen then that not only can scoring be accomplished during playing of the game in substantially total darkness, but also the score will be visibly displayed upon the board generally designated at 20 by the various lamps positioned upon the annulus.

It will also be apparent to those familiar with this art that certain modifications can be made in the device according to the present invention from the embodiment herein illustrated and described without substantial departure from the spirit of the invention as, for instance, the hereinabove described score mechanism can be modiiied or augmented by including and electrically associating therewith a signV whereon printed matter appears, adapted to be illuminated or otherwise exposed or emphasized in sections as,

for instance, by positioning an electric light be- Y hind each letter when the sign is made up of a plurality of transparent or at least translucent letters or numerals, whereby aslhoops fall into portions of the serrated member, parts of said printed matter are illuminated. It is 'preferred that all of the printed matter be illuminated by positioning one hoop in each of the several serrations ofthe central hoop-receiving member.

This embodiment of the vpresent invention is of especial value for amusement purposes inasmuch as successive throwing of hoops often causes hoops positioned in certain of the serrptions to be moved therefrom, whereby the difficulty of positioning one hoop in each of the serrations vis apparent. This .eiiect can be made more pronounced by arranging the scoring system whereby the serrations nearest the player are highest in score value and, accordingly, most desirable to a player -endeavoring to make` a high score. It will be noted that under these conditions an initially high score obtained by throwing the iirst or at least one of the iirst hoops in a game, can be materially altered during the subsequent playing of the ga'me when the total score is the summation of the individual scores made byV positioning hoops in certain of the serrationsof scores, penalties, forfeits and the like can be' imposed or awarded to the players making scores of predetermined value or to players positioning hoops in previously selected portions of the serrated hoop-receiving member.

It is preferred that the' indicating lights pou sitioned on the annulus and on the score board be of dierent colors whereby, if preferred, individual players can attempt to light the lights of a particular predetermined or preselec color,

thereby providing a still further modication of. the game as hereinabove described.

It is also to be noted that the amusement device according to the present invention is substantially and exclusively a game of skill wherein proiiciency is acquired through practice as contrasted to games of chance wherein proficiency is not necessarily predicated upon practice but is largely the result of casual land fortuitous occurrences.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and .is nctj conned to the exact showing of the drawings score indicating means mounted on said board,

electrically conductive material and an essen-` tially upright support, a game board mounted on said support and having a substantially circular opening formed therein adapted to permit passage therethrough of said hoops, a centrally positioned target supported within said opening, electrically actuated visual and audible scoreindicating means mounted on said board, and means for controlling said score indicating means comprising a substantially horizontally positioned member presenting upwardly extending serrations adapted to receive and cooperate with portions of said hoops,A each of said serrations comprising a plurality of isolated electrically conductive elements associated in-electrical circuit with said score indicating means whereby electrical circuits are altered by resting hoops on -I said serrations and said score indicating means is actuated.

3. An amusement device of the type described comprising a plurality of light hoops formed of electrically conductive material, an essentially upright support-adjustable in height, consisting of a plurality of cooperating extensible and contractible legs, a. game board mounted on said support, disposed in materially upright though slightly inclined position, and having a substantially circular opening formed therein adapted to permit passage therethrough of said hoops, a centrally positioned target supported within said opening, electrically actuated visual and audible score indicating means mounted on said board, and' means for controlling said score indicating means comprising a substantially horizontally positioned member mounted on portions of said boardvpresenting upwardly extending serrations said opening formed in said board and fastened adapted' to receive and cooperate with portions therein, a target member carried by said board o i said hoops, each of said serrations comprising a pair o! synclined electrically isolated conductive elements associated in electrical circuit with said score indicating 4means whereby electrical circuits are altered by resting hoops on said serrations thereby establishing electricalcircuit between the elements thereof and actuating said score indicating means.

4. An'amusement device oi the type described comprising a plurality of light hoops -formed of electrically conductive material, a supported materially upright though slightly inclined game board having a substantially circular opening formed therein adapted to permit passage therethrough of said" hoops, electrically actuated visual and audible score indicating means mountedl on said board, a U-shaped member consisting of horizontally positioned extended arms and upright connecting cross piece, said member being mounted adjacent and extending rearwardly of thereto by mounting means connectingsaid board and the free end oi one of said arms, ak target mounted on and carried by the free end of the other of said arms and positioned sub-- stantially centrally withinsaid opening, and means for controlling said score indicating means 'comprising a plurality of upwardly extending serrations formed on said target-carrying arm adapted to receiveand cooperate with portions of said hoops, each of. said serrations comprising a plurality of isolated electrically conductive elements associated in electrical circuit with said scoreindicating means whereby hoops tossed at said target can rest on said serrations thereby completing velectrical circuits causing said score indicating means to be actuated.

5. An amusement device ot the type describedcomprising a game board, said game board having a substantially circulan opening formed and disposed substantially centrally of said opening, said target member having a plurality of serrations, and means for electriiying said target member whereby a circuit is closed by a projectile contacting one or more of said serrations.

6.` In an amusement device of theV type described, a target member comprising.a U-shaped element lconsisting of horizontally positioned extended' arms and an upright connecting crosspiece, and a plurality of upwardly extending serrations formed on one of the horizontally extending arms oi' said U-shaped member for recei'ving and holding hoops,

`7. An amusement device of the type described comprising a game board, a target memberiassociated with said game board. said target member vincluding an arm having a plurality o i substantially V-shaped projections formed thereon, one

o! the legs of each V-shaped projection being.

substantially vertical and the other leginclinlng toward the front of said member, said legs forming electrical contacts of a signal circuit' whereby the circuit is completed by a projectile contacting one of said V-shaped projections.4

- 8. An amusement device of the type described comprising a game board, a target member `associated with saidgame board, said target member including an armhaving a plurality of substantially v-shaped projections integral'therewith.

one of the legs o! each V-shaped projection being substantially vertical and the other leg inclining A toward the iront oi said member. said vertical legs having ay ring of insulating material/thereon and electrical conducting switch elements disposed over said insulating material, said target y member being electrified whereby a circuit is closed by a projectile contacting one o! said switch elements and its associated inclined arm.

MOSES GOLDMAN. 

